Is mitral annular ascent useful in studying left ventricular function through left atrio-ventricular interactions?

Background: The mitral annulus (MA) is a crucial structure that is in constant motion throughout the cardiac cycle. The main purpose of this study was to determine if M-mode evaluation of the longitudinal motion of the MA could be useful to examine atrio-ventricular interactions.

Methods: Echocardiographic data obtained from 150 patients (mean age 56 ± 16; 82 males) from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine was evaluated to examine if any relationship exists between MA motion and measures of atrio-ventricular interactions.

Are objective measures of tricuspid annular motion and velocity used as frequently as recommended by current guidelines? A pilot study.

In this retrospective study 420 echocardiograms from a single center were reviewed showing that TAPSE was acquired in 66% while TA TDI s' signals were recorded in 98% of all echocardiograms. Based on these results greater efforts are required to standardize acquisition and reporting of objective measurements of RV function.

Importance of End-Diastolic Rather than End-Systolic Right Atrial Size in Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Right atrial (RA) enlargement has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) patients. Even though current guidelines only recommend measurement of RA dimensions at the end of ventricular systole in these patients, there is paucity of information regarding the potential utility of RA dimensions obtained at the end of ventricular diastole.

Methods: In this retrospective study, standard echocardiographic data were collected from 80 studies.

Temporal differences in ejection between right and left ventricles in chronic pulmonary hypertension: a pulsed Doppler study.

Chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) is known to alter right ventricular (RV) deformation and cause mechanical dyssynchrony. Since not all echocardiographic laboratories are equipped with sophisticated imaging tools, we decided to determine if Doppler would be useful to detect temporal differences between the ejection of the right and left ventricle (LV) as a result of cPH using pulsed outflow tract (RVOT and LVOT) spectral signals. Data was collected from 30 patients without PH (Group I: 53 ± 7 years and 31 ± 5 mmHg) and from 40 patients with cPH (Group II: 53 ± 13 years; P = NS and 82 ± 24 mmHg; P < 0.

Differences in the duration of total ejection between right and left ventricles in chronic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) is known to delay pulmonic valve closure resulting in a closely split second heart sound. We decided to measure total duration of right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (RVOT and LVOT) spectral signals using pulsed Doppler to determine if this approach was useful in identifying this narrowing in auscultation that should then result in a shorter temporal difference between the ejection of both ventricles.

Methods: Standard measures of RV and LV performance as well as Doppler data was collected from 85 patients divided into two groups according to their estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure obtained at the time of their echocardiographic examination.

Chronic pulmonary hypertension shortens the duration of mitral annular systolic and diastolic tissue Doppler signals.

Some data suggests that both left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function are impaired in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH); however, a clear understanding of these specific abnormalities remains poorly characterized. LV systolic and diastolic function as well as LV myocardial performance index (MPI) were obtained and compared to total duration of mitral annular (MA) TDI systolic (MASTDId) and diastolic (MADTDId) measurements, corrected for heart rate, in 20 controls (Group I: mean 53 ± 18 years) and 30 patients (Group II: mean 55 ± 14 years) with cPH. Group II patients had relatively faster heart rates (75 ± 14 bpm vs.

New annular tissue Doppler markers of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of mitral (MA) and tricuspid annulus (TA) events characterizes systolic and diastolic properties of each respective ventricle. However, the effect of chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) on these TDI annular events has not been well described.

Methods: Measurements of right ventricular (RV) performance with TDI of the lateral mitral and tricuspid annuli, to measure isovolumic contraction (IVC) and systolic (S) signals were recorded from 50 individuals without PH and from 50 patients with cPH.

Right ventricular apical contractility in acute pulmonary embolism: the McConnell sign revisited.

Background: The McConnell sign has been regarded as a highly specific echo finding in acute pulmonary embolism (aPE). However, a completely satisfying explanation to account for this observation in aPE remains elusive. We used longitudinal velocity vector imaging (VVI) using a dedicated software program (Research Arena, Siemens, California) to assess regional right ventricular global and apical (RVa) mechanics between aPE and chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) patients.

Right ventricular outflow tract spectral signal: a useful marker of right ventricular systolic performance and pulmonary hypertension severity.

Aims: Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) acceleration shortens with chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH). However, the overall value of this spectral Doppler signal in the assessment of PH patients is not well understood.

Methods And Results: Markers of RV systolic performance, time to onset, time to peak, and total duration of the RVOT systolic spectral Doppler signal were examined.